Postmortem: Sea v Lambs - The One That Got Away

[Michael K.]

What i am saying is that with an average RG there's a good chance Darnold throws two less picks because he doesn't hurry the throw and try to force it in to a covered receiver. But yeah, i'm trying to make excuses for the guy i've referred to as a turnover machine going back to the signing. He should have thrown it away but he just can't help himself, so that's why you need 5 lineman that can pass protectat least at a low end starter or high end backup level.

No one has five lineman they are just absolutely in love with. Sorry, it just doesn't happen. Sam is going to have to learn to be smarter with the ball when he gets pressured, because NFL QBs get pressured.

[XpertDBA]

What i am saying is that with an average RG there's a good chance Darnold throws two less picks because he doesn't hurry the throw and try to force it in to a covered receiver. But yeah, i'm trying to make excuses for the guy i've referred to as a turnover machine going back to the signing. He should have thrown it away but he just can't help himself, so that's why you need 5 lineman that can pass protectat least at a low end starter or high end backup level.

No one has five lineman they are just absolutely in love with. Sorry, it just doesn't happen. Sam is going to have to learn to be smarter with the ball when he gets pressured, because NFL QBs get pressured.

Bingo. 100%. Nothing more needs to be said.

[douche]

No one has five lineman they are just absolutely in love with. Sorry, it just doesn't happen. Sam is going to have to learn to be smarter with the ball when he gets pressured, because NFL QBs get pressured.

Hey, c'mon, there was a time when everyone loved all the linemen. It was sometime during the NE/Brady era. They even made a credit card commercial about it. 5 layers of VISA security that surround you in a pocket of protection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a209lYNetOc

[D-train]

Hugh Millen seemed to think two of the interceptions (if i heard him correctly) came on plays where Bradford missed his blocking assignment and Darnold had to hurry a throw under duress as a result. That is what i was getting at with how stuff like one player not holding his block or at least slowing down the pass rusher can cost you games and why i was so adamant about upgrading RG before the trade period ended.

And if it was Williams or Murphy getting in Stafford's face? We'd be pumped about our D Line. LA is good, there is going to be pressure. Throw the fucking ball away, don't force it. Listening to Millen is sometimes like listening to Schlereth. They get it in their heads that the position they played is so incredibly difficult, that it can't be that guys fault. Jesus Christ, you mean an NFL QB was under pressure? Stop the presses and let's have a news release. Ask Geno about pressure.

NFL QBs need to deal with pressure, it's going to happen. You are making the point that Darnold can't deal with big moments. He gets a little pressure and he decides the best option is to throw it to the other team? I'm not down on Darnold, but the more excuses people make for why he throws picks? The less faith I have in him. Give him a completely clean pocket and wide open WRs and he is fine.

HORRIBLE decisions on throwing the football three different times. LA started four drives inside of our territory, and I believe two of those were in the Red Zone. Three of those drives resulted in TDs. What was the final score again? You want to blame Bradford because Darnold takes risks under pressure? Go for it, but if that is the case? We'd better start looking for another QB, because you can't lead the NFL in turnovers and then blame your Right Fucking Guard.

No excuses whatsoever for those pics. Horrible decisions and a terrible game for him that obviously cost us the game. But I am going to believe he will finally learn from it and he plays well and we win our next big game. If I didn't believe that I will end up drinking even more than I do now. lol

[Sibelius Hindemith]

What i am saying is that with an average RG there's a good chance Darnold throws two less picks because he doesn't hurry the throw and try to force it in to a covered receiver. But yeah, i'm trying to make excuses for the guy i've referred to as a turnover machine going back to the signing. He should have thrown it away but he just can't help himself, so that's why you need 5 lineman that can pass protectat least at a low end starter or high end backup level.

No one has five lineman they are just absolutely in love with. Sorry, it just doesn't happen. Sam is going to have to learn to be smarter with the ball when he gets pressured, because NFL QBs get pressured.

I didn't say lineman they're in love with, i said low-end starter/high-end backup. Bradford isn't even backup level. He's practice squad material though should probably be playing in the UFL or CFL.

[Michael K.]

I didn't say lineman they're in love with, i said low-end starter/high-end backup. Bradford isn't even backup level. He's practice squad material though should probably be playing in the UFL or CFL.

As a team?
Pass Block Win Rate? 67%, good for 7th in the NFL.
Run Block Win Rate? 73% and good for 8th.

So, as a group, they are top 8 in the NFL at winning their blocks, but you have seen some tape where Bradford missed his blocks and have decided that he sucks?

I don't get it, if Sundel and Olu suck, and Zabel and Bradford suck, how are we winning our blocks at such a high rate? Do you think that it is possible that the reason this offense is functioning pretty well is because the O Line is doing a pretty damn good job, and sometimes? Really good NFL defensive lineman beat them. When that happens? Maybe the QB should think about throwing it away instead of at the other team?

We win in pass protection all by 27% of the time, and the QB leads the NFL in turnovers? I think your ire is pointed in the wrong direction.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

One problem with the "win rate" stats is that they don't reflect the choices of who to block, and perhaps PFF doesn't really either. But also, it scores all "losses" as equivalent. So, on a pass play, if you hold off a defender for 2.4 seconds that has the same value as allowing the defender to run around (or through) you unimpeded.

[Michael K.]

So, on a pass play, if you hold off a defender for 2.4 seconds that has the same value as allowing the defender to run around (or through) you unimpeded.

Huh? If the O Lineman holds a block for 2.4 seconds that is no different than a free rusher? I imagine they use the same scoring method for every team. So, your issue is null and void. Our win rate, against every other team in the NFL, places us 7th and 8th. But, poor Sam Darnold just can't be to blame since Hugh Millen played QB. He loses credibility with me just about every time I listen to him talk. The dude throws four picks, but two aren't his fault because he was under pressure. Shut the fuck up. He wasn't hit as he threw on ANY of the four. He also threw several balls right into the fucking facemask of a pass rusher. He had a bad day....a very bad day. But leave it to someone out there, usually Hugh Millen, to find a reason why it wasn't the QB's fault.

Same as Stink watching our O Line get their shit pushed in for four quarters and blaming Grubb. We could NOT run the ball, not at all. I love Stink, but we started three or four guys at a time last year that don't belong on the field, let alone starting. And if you ask Stink? It wasn't those poor feable O Lineman's job. I wonder why non of those turds that played RT when Abe was out are starting anywhere else this year? I wonder why the Center retired? I wonder why Haynes still can't beat out the guy you claim is the worst Guard in the world? Because they all sucked, and that is why our offense struggled. Again, I have zero clue how we won ten games. The O Line was as bad as I have ever seen.

I don't say that anymore. Sure, those low light videos of Bradford are funny, but our line as a unit wins to the tune of 8th and 7th in the entire NFL. How do you look at that and fault ANYONE but Darnold for leading the NFL in turnovers?

[douche]

...but our line as a unit wins to the tune of 8th and 7th in the entire NFL.
How do you look at that and fault ANYONE but Darnold for leading the NFL in turnovers?

I'm not saying anything new but sometimes you just have to live to see another day (or down). It's human nature to panic and attempt to make something out of nothing. Unfortunately, it can often backfire. Easy for any of us to say, but sometimes the best option is to simply protect the ball and take the sack.

Whereas INTs result in turnovers, which often result in points, which gets people excited, nobody gets all that excited about sacks.

[Michael K.]

...but our line as a unit wins to the tune of 8th and 7th in the entire NFL.
How do you look at that and fault ANYONE but Darnold for leading the NFL in turnovers?

I'm not saying anything new but sometimes you just have to live to see another day (or down). It's human nature to panic and attempt to make something out of nothing. Unfortunately, it can often backfire. Easy for any of us to say, but sometimes the best option is to simply protect the ball and take the sack.

Whereas INTs result in turnovers, which often result in points, which gets people excited, nobody gets all that excited about sacks.

Agreed, and that would most likely be the sentiment if he only threw two, but four? It's a problem. Lead the NFL in turnovers? That's a problem...and one that he seems to suffer from in big games. People don't like the narrative, but he is going to have to do something to change it. So far? What he does in big moments is turn the ball over. Ends losses with SF and TB with picks and then throws four in the loss to the Rams. That's just this year. Sure, he has played very well at times, but those were big moments against quality opponents and he turned the ball over. Look at how he finished last season? Knowing all of that, it cracks me up that some think the "chokes in big games" theory is off base. He needs to do something besides choke in big games before the narrative changes.